Do hospitals hire NEW NURSE GRADS?

Nurses General Nursing

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I'm a pre- nursing student and one of my classmates really scared me yesterday. She told me that when we finish the ADN program, noone would hire us. Is this true??? And someone else tells me it's not true that hospitals love to hire new grads. I don't know who to believe, and i don't want to go through all that hard work if I wont get hired.

I already spent almost a year in Medical Assisting school, and never got hired, so i don't want the same thing to happen. And if this is true, why do hospitals "love" to hire new nurses?

thanks in advance!

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Specializes in cardiac/critical care/ informatics.

Hospitals hire new grads all the time, some even have new grad programs. There is a nursing shortage, granted not in all areas is severe, but none the less still a shortage.

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I'm a pre- nursing student and one of my classmates really scared me yesterday. She told me that when we finish the ADN program, noone would hire us. Is this true??? And someone else tells me it's not true that hospitals love to hire new grads. I don't know who to believe, and i don't want to go through all that hard work if I wont get hired.

I already spent almost a year in Medical Assisting school, and never got hired, so i don't want the same thing to happen. And if this is true, why do hospitals "love" to hire new nurses?

thanks in advance!

At my school, ASN, when we are doing our clinical rounds at the local hospitals, the nursing students before us, ALL of them, were offered positions contingent upon their completion of the nursing program. I would think that most if not all hospitals will hire a new grad. Along with that I would say that there may be departments within a hospital that either won't take on new grads or is very picky about taking on grads. Good luck and try not to worry so much. Enjoy your time in nursing school.

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Specializes in Emergency.

Think about it. If no hospitals hired new grads, how would brand spankin' new RNs get experience? Of course not all hospitals will hire new grads, it depends on the individual hospital. My impression (from talking to RNs and posts here) is that large teaching hospitals are the best bet for that 1st job.

Nursing School NCLEXy test tip: any answer with an absolute in it, i.e., never, always, nobody, ever, etc., isn't the right answer. ;)

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Some units will not hire new grads (cath lab, or, icu - depending on their needs and ability to educate). However I have never heard of a hospital not hiring new grads. New grads cost less to pay than an experienced nurse. I have been beat out by a new grad for a floor job simply because I had too much experience which would cost more money. And of course some hospitals LOVE new grads - because new grads have no idea what is ok and what is not. They will take a job that an experienced nurse won't take because the job is unsafe and working conditions horrible. But when you are new, you don't necessarily have the experience to know just how bad the place is - so a newbie is less likely to make waves. Yes, you will be able to get a job somewhere as an RN. But open your eyes and look - the best looking job offer may not be the best job for you.

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One thing I've noticed (pre-nursing student too) is that all the little sheep like to make all the other little sheep just as scared as they are, so they tend to fabricate things. If you were really worried, I would check with actual Nurses in your area and start making contacts.

In my experience rumors are just rumors. Everyone likes to get all dramatic about everything...especially (even thought we hate to admit it) when you get classes full of almost all women. Drama seems to flare up at a light of a match. I wouldn't worry about it. The Sick people to nurses ratio raises every year, and trust me, they need you.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

ok, first, the rumor mill in nursing schools can be brutal and very inaccurate. This is a great site to compare almost world wide what "really" goes on out there.

Second, in the US, there are areas that are saturated with nurses, and are very "selective" with the new grads they take. I know this in true in some of the northern states in specific locations. Now this simply means that you may not be able to pick your hospital or unit of choice, but you should be hired, even for 6 months to a year somewhere to get a good reference and then reapply for what you want. The openings still exist, the choices much more limited.

That being said, the majority of areas in the US and abroad are in a nursing crisis and new grads are the FUTURE of our profession and are happily hired in hospitals, even in "tough" to get in areas.

You're wise to worry as you've had a similar problem. goto guidance and ask what there placement rate is on graduation. Look at the want ads and see how many RN jobs are posted, who is having "job fairs". This is a good indicator of the nursing needs for your area. I assure you that it is not crazy to expect the need to grow over your next two years as more hospital nurses leave, retire and go into more community off hospital site jobs.

I hope this helps. You are needed, you ARE valued. You should easily find employment, again your choices are area dependent. I graduated from a VERY saturated area that is closing hospitals. We moved after I had a year in for a great opportunity and never looked back!

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Specializes in Rodeo Nursing (Neuro).

Jobs are definitely available, but you can improve your odds. Don't wait until you pass NCLEX to start looking. I secured my position before my final semester--granted, it was a little easier, since I was advancing my career at my current employer, but they'd have gladly interviewed anyone who came in. Start looking early, talk to HR, and go to any job fairs you can. At my school, a lot of recruiters came in with info and applications for a day, and it was a real good way to get the lay of the land.

As stated elsewhere, you can't believe rumors.

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Specializes in L&D.

Yes they hire new grads. They may not hire a new grad in a specialty unit, like L&D (lots do though), but there shouldn't be any problems finding a med/surg position. Check around at the hospitals you'd be interested in working at.

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To improve your odds, six or seven months before you graduate, start looking. Go to job fairs. Ask about shadowing. Network where you do your clinicals (if you think you'd like to work there). See if you can find an intern or extern position. Work on your resume and cover letter till they shine.

If you don't have a resume or cover letter, many schools offer help with these and there are dozens of websites that can give you pointers as well.

Start assembling a portfolio--a photo album works well--that contains any certificates, complimentary letters, or other demonstration of achievement that you can bring to an interview. If you've volunteered for anything, include pictures, citations, letters of thanks, that show who you are and what you have accomplished.

Finally, start grooming a list of references. Professional ones would include employers and instructors, but you may need character references as well. Cultivate good relationships with people who would at some point be willing to vouch for you as a person.

If you give yourself plenty of time to do these things, you will be ready and marketable when the time comes. Many grads have jobs lined up months before graduation. They work as GNs until they take NCLEX.

I wish you the best.

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I'm a pre- nursing student and one of my classmates really scared me yesterday. She told me that when we finish the ADN program, noone would hire us. Is this true??? And someone else tells me it's not true that hospitals love to hire new grads. I don't know who to believe, and i don't want to go through all that hard work if I wont get hired.

I already spent almost a year in Medical Assisting school, and never got hired, so i don't want the same thing to happen. And if this is true, why do hospitals "love" to hire new nurses?

thanks in advance!

Hospitals hire new grads cause they are cheap and want to save money. That is all they care about today is the bottom line. So dont worry....

Our hospital is even hiring new grads in the ICU and ER....management says they are tired of butting heads with experienced nurses who speak their minds and want new grads that are quiet and can be molded to management specs.

Ken

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Probably 99% of my classmates were hired by hospitals in the city...

The other 1% are probably working in the community or in clinics because they made it clear during school they hated bedside nursing.

Hospitals welcome new grads. Lots of hospitals have New Grad Training Programs. Rest assured, you'll find a job.

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